Improvement in attachments for invalid-beds



R. ODONNELL. Attachment for Invalid-Beds.

No. 221,346. Patented Nov. 4, I879.

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N. PEI'ERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, u c.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ROSA ODONNELL, OF- SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN ATTACHMENTS FOR INVALID-BEDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 221.346, dated November 4, 1879; application filed February '7, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROSA ODONNELL, of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improved Attachment for Invalid- Beds, of which the following is a specification.

Figure 1 of accompai'lying drawings is a side .view of one part of my invention, applied as a means of adjusting the inclination of the upper part of the body of a reclining patient, Fig. 2 being an end view of same. Fig. 3 is a side "iew of my attachment, all complete, exhibited in process of raising a patient from the bed, Fig. at being an end view of same, looking from foot of bed. Fig. 5 illustrates the application of an auxiliary X-shaped trestle, O, resting in notches on the standards D, upon which the head of the stretcher I may rest more securely when not hanging from the roller G.

-Like letters of reference refer to like in all the figures.

In Figs. 1 and 2, Ais the ordinary bedstead, with mattress B upon it, C being the reclining patient. D D are two moderately heavy standards, capable of being moved on rollers to any desired position along the side of the bed. E E are upright posts, capable of swinging on a pivot, e, projecting from the standards from the horizontal to the perpendicular position, and be maintained at these and any intermediate position by pegs a, inserted through the posts and into holes in the standards D, placed to correspond with the desired degree ofinelination. F F F are leather straps. Their ends being inserted in slotted holes in the posts E, they pass under the mattress B, and support it in any position, accordingly as the straps are adjusted tightly or loosely between their supports. To hold these straps firmly to the posts E pins 1) are run through one of the many holesin the straps in the part which projects through the posts.

The operation of this part of my invention is simple. The straps, being-drawn between the mattress and bed-bottom, are inserted in the holes in posts E when the posts are in a horizontal position. by inserting the pegs. The posts are elevated to the position approaching the perpendicular which it is desired the patient should occupy,

parts They are then secured the posts finally being secured rigidly by inserting the pegs, as before mentioned.

The second part of my invention relates to the means employed for raising the patient entirely, and, if necessary, moving him away to any reasonable distance from the bed.

The standards D and their swinging posts are again used, but at the head of the bed, as shown in Fig. 3. A roller, G, with crank-handle, g, is borne in the recesses provided in the top of the posts, which are in this application always in a perpendicular position.

From the roller Gr two straps, H, depend, to connect in any suitable way to the head of a strong blanket or stretcher, I, which covers the bed. This blanket is bound, top and bottom, with a strip of leather. The edges of the blanket at the sides are turned over and stitched to form a loop, through which strong bars K are passed, forming a stretcher, upon which the patient will lie.

L is an adjustable X-shaped trestle, made of two crossed bars pivoted in the center at l, which is placed at the foot of the bed, and is made capable of being adjusted to various heights by opening apart and closingtogether the two legs. It is supported in a frame, H, to keep it steady and allow of its being more readily moved. This frame, which may be provided with rollers, like the standards D, is simply a foot-board, m, with strips m nailed on its upper surface, between which the two legs of the trestle will be guided when being spread apart. Little pivoted blocks m", attached to the legs, rest on the upper edges of these guide-strips, and provide a better hearing for the trestle than if the trestle-legs rested on the foot-board.

Two upright strips, or, are secured in the cen ter of the foot-board, and, having strips a nailed on top, form a slotted guide .and support for the trestle at a little below its middle height. At near the top of each of this trestles legs, at d, there will be holes to receive the ends of the stretcher-bars. this trestle from spreading when the weight of the patient is resting on it various simple means may be used. A wedge, N, driven between the trestleleg and the frame will serve.

In Fig. 5 an auxiliary trestle, 0, may be used To prevent 1 to support the head of the stretcher firmly when it has been raised to its required height. Its application is simple and clearly illustrated in the figure.

The feet of the trestle set in notches in the standards D, and the pointed upper ends of the legs rest against the inside edges of the bars ot'the stretcher, and thus support the stretcher firmly.

The operation of this latter part of my invention is as follows Ordinarily the blanket of the stretcher forms part of the bedcovering upon which the patient rests. \Vhen it is desired to raise him to change the bed, &c., the bars K are run through the loops, the standards 1), with their posts set upright. re brought into position at 11 ad of bed, and the roller G set up. The straps II are now fastened to the stretcher and wrapped around the roller, when, by turning the crank-handle g, the head of the stretcher may be lifted, the foot being raised by the attendant, who inserts the ends of the stretcher-bars in the holes in the foot-- trestle, which trestle should be opened apart to its lowest point to receive them, afterward to be closed together in the act of raisin \Vhen the patient is raised high enough the auxiliary trestle O is applied, and the operation is completed. The patient, being new entirely free from the bed, may be rolled about, as he restsupon an independent support. To lower the patient the operation is reversed.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the movable standards l), with their pivoted posts E, and straps F, operating to adjust the inclination of the bed or mattress B, as and for the purpose herein described.

2. The combination of the standards 1), posts I), stretcher I, trestle L, roller G, and straps H, as and for the purpose herein de scribed.

ROSA ()DONNELL.

\Vitnesses:

GEoRoE PARDY, JonN D. BROWNE. 

